They are called the Bishop Kearney Kings, but they are among the queens of Section V flag football after a 20-13 win over Gananda in the Class B2 sectional final.
Not bad for a team in its first varsity season, a year or two after many teams in Section V began to play.
The Kings remain undefeated after their triumph at Monroe Community College.
Player of the game
Greta Brezenski, Bishop Kearney senior. The Kings quarterback threw two touchdown passes in the first half and her four-yard touchdown run with 14.5 seconds remaining gave her team a six-point lead.
Play of the game
Gananda trailed 14-13 and had the ball about 15 yards from the goal line on 4th-and-zone. The pass by Gananda star quarterback Ella Lathrop fell to the turf incomplete near the goal line with 8:32 remaining in the second half. Remember, the clock rolls downward more often than not in flag football, even after incomplete passes.
By the numbers
13:29 – Time remaining during the first half when Gananda scored the game’s first touchdown, about a five-yard throw by Lathrop to Avery Hoffmann. The Blue Panthers then scored a one-point conversion, a catch or reception by Kailyn Bowen, to take 7-0 lead.
7:29 – When Bishop Kearney scored for the first time in the first half. Greta Brezenski patted, then threw the ball into the end zone to Allie Hall, who stretched her arms to make the catch over her head as she faced the goal line. The score was 7-7 after a one-point conversion catch by Nela Lopusanova.
1 – Yard away from the end zone where Gananda defensive player Alysia Cruz prevented a touchdown when she pulled the flag of a Bishop Kearney receiver on 4th and zone with 2:17 remaining in the first half.
5 – Yards covered on a touchdown pass from Brezenski to Lopusanova. The Kings beat the clock, as the score and conversion point, another grab by Lopusanova, came with 32.7 seconds left before halftime. Bishop Kearney led 14-7.
1 – Interception by Lopusanova during the final seconds of the first half.
15:46 – Time on the clock in the second half when Lathrop scored a touchdown at the end of a 21-yard run where she dodged four defenders on 4th-and-zone. But officials ruled that Lathrop was stopped short of the end zone during the conversion attempt. Kearney remained ahead, 14-13.
1 – Interception by Hoffmann near the 40-yard line, midfield, to get the ball back for the Blue Panthers with 13:45 remaining.
4:59 – Time left when Gananda punted from deep inside its 20-yard line after it was unable to advance to the next line and get a new set of downs.
3:03 – When the Gananda defense got the ball back for the team’s offense after a turnover on downs at about the Gananda 25. Cruz pulled the flag.
0 – Yards the Blue Panthers advanced on their next-to last possession after the defensive stop completed by Cruz. Kearney then extended its lead on Brezinski’s touchdown run.
More: Greece Athena knocks off Batavia, wins Section V flag football championship
What’s next
Bishop Kearney (13-0) can advance into a state tournament, but to get there the Kings must defeat Section V Class B1 champion Greece Athena (13-1) 6 p.m. May 23 at East Rochester.
